BCI Celebrates with Special Awards Honouring Seven Key Community Partners

BCI Celebrates with Special Awards Honouring Seven Key Community Partners

The Business Confucius Institute (BCI) at the University of Leeds marked a major milestone last Friday with a ceremony celebrating the "UIBE Confucius Institute 20th Anniversary Partnership Award." The event honoured seven organisations whose long-standing collaboration has helped the Institute promote Mandarin language learning and Chinese culture across Leeds and the wider region.

The celebration comes in a landmark year for the Institute. The BCI is a partnership between the University of Leeds and the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, and 2026 marks 20 years since UIBE established its first Confucius Institute abroad. The new award was created specifically to recognise this anniversary and to thank the local partners who have played a vital role in the Institute’s success.

Honouring Seven Partners Who Have Shaped the Institute’s Community Impact

The heart of the event was the recognition of seven organisations whose collaboration has been essential to the BCI’s mission. Their support has enabled the Institute to reach university students, community groups, business networks, charitable organisations, and local schools, ensuring that Mandarin and Chinese culture are accessible to people across Leeds and North Yorkshire

The award recipients were:

• Harrogate Grammar School, represented by Adrian Stipetic, Modern Foreign Languages Faculty Leader, honoured for championing 11-18 year old Mandarin education and being a long term "Confucius Classroom"
• The Language Zone at the University of Leeds, represented by Carolin Schneider, Language Zone Manager, celebrated for enhancing language learning opportunities for university students and supporting cross-cultural engagement on campus.
• Leeds Chinese Community Association, represented by Joyce Cai, Vice Chair, recognised for strengthening community connections and supporting cultural events that bring together Chinese communities across Leeds.
• Lychee Red Chinese Seniors Project, represented by Huazhu Liu, Man Chiu Leung, and Yue Juan Mai acknowledged for its dedication to supporting older members of the Chinese community and promoting wellbeing through cultural activities.
• New Vision Education Chinese School, represented by Tatum Yip, Director of School, celebrated for nurturing young Mandarin learners and fostering cultural pride among children and families.
• Leeds Chinese Community School, represented by Wu Nan, Deputy Headteacher, and Michelle Lam, Committee Member, recognised for its long-standing partnership in delivering language programmes and cultural celebrations for local families.
• The University of Leeds, School of East Asian Studies, represented by Dr Ying Peng, Associate Professor of Chinese, honoured for its academic leadership and its role in strengthening Chinese studies within the University.

These seven partners reflect the breadth and depth of the BCI’s community reach. Their contributions have helped embed Mandarin and Chinese culture into the educational, cultural, and social life of Leeds, ensuring that the Institute’s mission continues to thrive.

A Visit from Senior UIBE Leaders

The ceremony coincided with a visit from a high-level delegation from UIBE, led by Mr Huang Baoyin, Chair of the University Council (UIBE). He was joined by Wang Tianyi, Huo Yuan, Professor Wang Bo, and Mr Jing Chenxing, whose presence highlighted the strength of the international partnership.

During their time in Leeds, the delegation took a guided tour of the University of Leeds campus, meeting staff and learning more about the university’s teaching and cultural facilities. They also visited the BCI’s recent exhibition, When Tang Xianzu Meets Shakespeare, which explores the creative dialogue between two of the world’s most influential playwrights and celebrates the shared literary heritage between China and the West.

Mr Huang played a central role in the awards ceremony itself, personally helping to present the honours to each of the seven celebrated partners.

Looking Ahead

The Business Confucius Institute looks forward to continuing its close partnerships with schools, community groups, cultural organisations, and university colleagues. Working together to share Chinese culture, expand Mandarin learning opportunities, and support the diverse communities of Leeds for many years to come.

You can see more photos from the event here